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News Archive November - December 2003
Coombe Hill Reserve Opening: Gallery
Severn Hams (31 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
Coombe Hill: Water levels continue to fall, with islands in scrapes clearly visible. Few birds visible from the Grundon Hide, but a Merlin flew past. About 120 Lapwings, two or three Water Rails calling from Broad Mere. One Peregrine flying by. About 150 Wigeon and 350 Teal in the Long Pool, but very few Snipe there.
Leigh Meadows: The pair of Whoopers grazing with about 18 Mutes as usual.
Ashleworth: At least a thousand ducks (mainly Wigeon, some Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pintail), not coming to graze on the edges as they did when the surface was iced over. A male Peregrine on the pylons. At least one Stonechat. About fifty Snipe and one Jack Snipe.
Sudmeadow (31 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
Another unringed Chiffchaff by the river at Sudmeadow: this makes a total of at least 7 different birds during December and possibly 9! A pair of Stonechats by the Plantation pool (The field behind the old Fieldings playing field). 1 Green Sandpiper on waste ground pools by Presswelds.
Severn Hams (29 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
Ashleworth Ham: Freezing fog and ice at first light; birds sitting round holes in ice and it was hard to see through fog; not sure if Whoopers were roosting. When fog rose later in the morning, we had good counts of ducks on the ice: 1200 Wigeon, 375 Teal, 90 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 50 Mallard, but only 20 Pintail. The Wigeon were not feeding on grass round edges early on, but in mid morning, thye came over to water's edge very close to road, with several hundred feeding on edge of the grass near the road unconcerned by passing traffic.
Walmore Common: 26 Bewick's at 09h30; 16 adults or yearlings and 10 cygnets; there seemed to be family parties of three, three and four cygnets. About 10h30, ten birds flew off (three adults and seven cygnets) towards Slimbridge, leaving one family party of two unringed adults with three cygnets (birds already seen on 16 December?), plus eleven adults/yearlings.
All birds checked for rings and four rings were found and read:
- 541 yearling, yellow, already seen here twice;
other three were on adults:
- TXF black letters on white ground, reading up on left leg
- ZBJ black letters on yellow ground, reading up on left leg
- YLS black letters on yellow ground, reading up on right leg
All three appeared to be adults and to fly off with the cygnets at 10h30.
In addition to the Bewick's: 1 Kingfisher, 1 Water Rail in the pond in the middle, 1 Snipe, 250 Lapwings flew over, 3 perhaps 4 Stonechats round pond in middle.
Leigh Meadows: 2 Whooper Swans grazing alongside 20 Mute Swans about 11h00; we don't know where they had roosted.
Swindon Village/Stoke Orchard area (28 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
A Green Sandpiper flushed from Hyde Brook, near Brockhampton sewage works. A Peregrine Falcon causing panic among Fieldfares and Lapwings between Stoke Orchard and Hardwicke. A single Brambling with other finches at Elmstone Hardwicke.
Sudmeadow (28 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
3 new Chiffchaffs being trapped in a morning ringing session. A female Blackcap still at Hemminsdale Road.
Sudmeadow (27 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A fairly quiet afternoon today.
A female Blackcap in Hemmingsdale Road. 3 Snipe at Sudmeadow marsh. 1 Chiffchaff by the river at Sudmeadow and 1 male Stonechat by the power station at Port Ham.
Sudmeadow (25 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
In the morning there was an 'abietinus' Chiffchaff by Llantony Weir with a tit flock.
A nominate race Chiffchaff was by Lower Parting and a female Stonechat was nearby as well.
Forest of Dean (23 December, contributed by Andy Jayne)
Seen in the Moseley Green/Oakenhill/Parkend/Cannop were: 12 Little Grebes at Cannop Ponds, 2 Willow Tits in Churchill Inclosure, 2 Crossbills at Oakenhill and 4 Hawfinch in Yew trees at Parkend.
Walmore Common (23 December, contributed by Andy Jayne)
In the afternoon there were 4 Bewick's Swans, 100 Teal, a Little Egret, a Kingfisher and 4 Stonechats.
Sudmeadow (20 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
25 White-fronts south over Castle Meads at 10h20 then across the docks towards Tuffley.
3 Chiffchaffs, 1 in the osier and 2 along the river below the Parting with a small tit flock.
2 Snipe over GLS towards the Manor and lastly a pair of Stonechats on Port Ham.
Severn Hams (17 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown )
Whooper Swan: the adult pair present at first light, flew out at 08h15 to west, seen at 09h00 grazing with Mute Swans on Leigh Meadows; looks as if they are here to stay.
Ducks: almost a thousand present, mainly Wigeon, but nearly 50 Shoveler and good numbers of Pintail and Gadwall, a few Teal.
Peregrine: one on pylons.
Water Rail: squealing early on.
Snipe: at least 50, mainly in fields of uncut Canary Grass Phallaris with open patches.
Jack Snipe: two at Ashleworth.
Green Sandpiper: one on the muddy bank of the Severn near Wainlodes.
Barn Owl: one hunting over Ashleworth at first light.
Stonechat: two calling on the reserve at first light.
Chiffchaff: one calling and seen in patches of ivy on old oak trees.
Coombe Hill (17 December, contributed by Ian Ralphs)
3 Tench and 1 small Pike (1-2 lbs) at the eastern end of the Canal, with a Brown Hare in the fields nearby.
Swindon Village (16 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
2 mines of the RDB micro-moth Celypha woodiana were found today in mistletoe leaves growing in hedgerow trees near Swindon Village. This moth is something of a Three Counties speciality, though as its status nationally suggests there are but few records in Gloucestershire. Should you come across locally sourced mistletoe in the run up to Christmas then look out for the distinctive yellow cresent shaped mines, an example of which is shown below.
Walmore (16 December, contributed by Mike Smart)
13 Bewick's Swans, on field G, from 12h30 to 14h00 at least. One family of two adults with three cygnets; three first winter birds still with some dark feathers on the head, one of them very strongly marked; five additional adults. All feeding on grassland. Only one was ringed and that was the bird seen here on Monday, yellow 541, which was ringed in the Petchora Delta, Russia, north of the Arctic Circle, in August 2005.
About 350 Teal left on the Common side, at least 20 Snipe, 15 Lapwings, at least six Ravens, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard.
Severn Hams (15 December, contributed by Mike Smart)
I went to Ashleworth before daybreak this morning to check whether the Whoopers seen yesterday at Coombe Hill and the Leigh Meadows had roosted there; two of them had; perhaps this means that they had visited the area in prevous winters? They were sitting in thick vegetation at the back, just opposite the hide, when it became light enough to see them. They became more active witt the sunlight (though it had been biright moonlihgt before) swam around together, rather imperiously, with a fair bit of head bobbing; finally at about 08h30, they took off, whooping loudly, and headed off straight across the river, as though they knew their way; a little while later, I saw them grazing in the Leigh Meadows, alongside the Chelt, on the same field as yesterday with a dozen Mute Swans.
The ringed bird was not with them; he had separated from them yesterday when they took off from Coombe Hill canal; it will be interesting to see (a) whether he joins them (is he perhaps on the floodwater at Coombe Hill right now, or has he moved on?) and (b) whether the others stay round and perhpas attract more Whoopers.
Other birds at Ashleworth early on: two Little Owls calling at dawn; a Water Rail squealing; moderate numbers of Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, some coming to feed along the edge of the water very close to the road; a couple of Goldcrests and at least two Chiffchaffs calling.
Sudmeadow (15 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
At least 2 Chiffchaffs in the area as a new one was trapped today and there is still at least one unringed bird about. Also a male Peregrine in the area.
Brockhampton Sewage Works, Swindon Village (15 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
3 Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest feeding in undergrowth by Hyde Brook on the south side of the works. 3 Buzzards in the area with a fourth nearby in Swindon Lane.
Coombe Hill (14 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
The recent floods at Coombe Hill are dropping slowly. The Grundon hide is now accessible reasonably easily (with wellingtons - beware the missing board on the boardwalk), and the new Long Pool hide is now also accessible, (again with welllingtons, but without too much difficulty).
The number of geese and ducks present in the early morning has decreased somewhat - they don't seem to have moved over to Ashleworth where winter water levels are maintained, through manipulation of the sluice, at a slightly higher level. This morning there were about 700 Wigeon, about 190 Canada and 3 Greylag Geese; also about ten Shovelers and three Pintail, 300 Lapwings and a Dunlin. A new arrival on the floodwater was a Tufted Duck. From the Long Pool hide we could see five Gadwall and an immature male Ruddy Duck (first record for the reserve?). There were half a dozen Lesser Redpolls along the canal bank.
Halfway through the morning three adult Whooper Swans arrived, calling loudly as though they were making their first visit. They landed in a field alongside the canal bank, and two began to feed hungrily, while the third kept watch rather nervously. Bird number three proved to be ringed with a yellow ring, number LX5; it had been ringed as an adult at WWT Martinmere in Lancashire on 29 January 2003, seen there again the following winter on 3 November 2004 and 31 December 2004; it will no doubt have nested in Iceland but has never been seen there (yet). Had it been to the Severn Hams before it was ringed perhaps?? After a while, all three flew off, but two of them were later seen feeding among a flock of grazing Mute Swans on the nearby Leigh Meadows. This is a very encouraging observation, as small numbers of Whooper Swans wintered in the Severn Hams from 1990 to 2003, but have not stayed for the last two winters. We hope that these birds will stay all winter and attract other passing Whoopers to join them.
It transpires that the yearling Bewick's Swan whose ring (yellow 541) was read at Walmore on Monday last, had been ringed as a first year bird on the Petchora Delta, Russia, north of the Arctic Circle (68 degrees North, 54 degrees East!) in summer 2005. It had made a brief appearance at Slimbridge on 4 December.
Cheltenham (14 December, contributed by John Sanders)
2 adult male Goosanders have returned to Pittville Park (lower lake, by the island), the first sighting here this winter. Their plumages are stained brown, which suggests that they have just flown in from an acid, iron rich water area.
Walmore (12 December, contributed by Mike Smart)
The floods have gone down, but there are still plenty of birds: 3 Bewick's Swans (one a first winter wearing Slimbridge yellow colour ring 541); 15 Mute Swans; a vast concourse of Teal on the Common with a very high count of over 900 birds; 10 Shoveler but only two Wigeon left; 130 Lapwings; a minimum of 2 Snipe; the usual Ravens, with about half a dozen flying round, calling.
Cheltenham (12 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
The Starling roost in the Windyridge Road area is much depleted - now down to only 200 or so birds. What has happened to the other 4000+?
Prestbury (12 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
A single Chiffchaff in the farm yard in Gravel Pit Lane this morning.
Sudmeadow (12 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
Three Chiffchaffs in the area this morning: one in the old osier and two together by the Lower Parting. All were of the nominate race.
Coombe Hill (10 December, contributed by Ian Ralphs)
In the afternoon from the Grundon hide, a Grey Squirrel was seen swimming across the flooded meadows. It appeared along the side of the drain that leads from the Long Pool area and was seen to successfully reach the eastern end of the Broadmead willows. It made slow but steady progress across the floods and appeared completely unfazed by all the geese and ducks
Severn Hams (10 December, contributed by Mike Smart and Les Brown)
The level of the Severn is now lower and the water has gone down a little at Coombe Hill, although the Grundon Hide is still only accessible with difficulty and wellingtons. The level is down rather more at Ashleworth.
At Coombe Hill in the morning: a minimum of 2,100 ducks and 500 geese. Ducks included at least 1900 Wigeon, 20 Shoveler, 80 Pintail, a minimum of 100+ teal, probably many more hidden in the Long Pool. 470 Canadas, 35 Greylags, 1 Canada x Greylag hybird, one adult Whitefront. Eight Lesser Redpolls, a little Grebe, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin, 95 Lapwings. No sign of Bittern or Whooper Swan.
At Ashleworth at least 1,500 ducks, mainly Wigeon. Also 150 Canada Geese,at least 50 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, a Peregrine on the pylons, Sparrowhawk, two or three Buzzards, at least two Chiffchaffs calling, two Stonechats.
The total number of ducks (at least 3,500, maybe 4,000) suggests an influx over the last few days. No sign of any Bewick's
Sudmeadow (9 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Chiffchaff trapped for ringing today, with a Golden Plover seen flying north.
Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (7 December, contributed by Mike Smart)
Water levels are still high and the Grundon Hide at Coombe Hill is only just accessible and many fields at Ashleworth are still under water.
There seems to be about 2,000 to 2,500 ducks (mostly Wigeon, 200+ Teal, about 100 each Shoveler and Pintail, about a dozen Gadwall, maybe 50 Mallard) in the general area, moving back and forth between the two sites, more at Coombe Hill when water levels are high, more at Ashleworth when they drop. No sign of any Bewick's or Whoopers, nor of Bittern.
Two Peregrines on the pylons at Ashleworth, a Green Sandpiper on the banks of the Severn (everything else was frozen!), three Redpolls in Stank Lane at Ashleworth and two Stonechats at Ashleworth.
Sudmeadow (6 December, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Chiffchaff feeding by the floodwater today.
Cheltenham (5 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
As in March 2004, there is a large Starling roost in the Windyridge Road area of Cheltenham with the birds congregating on the pylons over the road in the late afternoon - perhaps 5000+ birds today.
Cheltenham (3 and 4 December, contributed by Robert Homan)
Winter warblers are about, including a Chiffchaff calling from the Honeybourne Cyclepath at St Paul's and a male Blackcap seen in a garden in Swindon Lane.
Ashleworth (1 December, contributed by Mike Smart)
With the level of the Severn dropping, floods are decreasing at Coombe Hill, but at Ashleworth water levels are kept at a high level by the sluice, so that there is plenty of water for the ducks. It looks as though ducks in the Severn Hams are moving from Coombe Hill to Ashleworth. At first light this morning, no sign of the Whooper Swans reported on 23 and 26 November, so they do not seem to be roosting at Ashleworth; no Bewick's either; ducks rather noisy first thing, mostly small mating parties of Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard and Pintail, with a single female surrounded by up to eight or nine noisy drakes. Rather few birds coming to graze close to the road - maximum of 40 or so - but the water has another few centimetres to drop yet, so this behaviour will no doubt develop; most ducks sitting placidly round the edges, asleep. Over a thousand in all, maybe 12 Gadwall, 50 Pintail, 70 Shoveler, 200 Teal, about a thousand Wigeon. Canada Geese not roosting, but up to 150 arrived mid morning. Stacks of Snipe round the back, over 50 and at least one Jack Snipe. At least three Stonechats. All four common raptors: Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. No Bitterns!
Coombe Hill and Ashleworth (29 November, contributed by Mike Smart)
Water levels were falling fast this morning after a cold night with snowfall and frost. Walking along the boardwalk to the Grundon hide, a Bittern flew out of the osiers on the right; it was in flight for about ten seconds, but it was quite unmistakable - a big brown, gangling heron-like bird which probably came in overnight with the cold weather. It subsequently disappeared behind the treetops and probably landed somewhere else in the osiers and will be very difficult to find again.
Otherwise with the water dropping fast there were but few ducks left. The new hide on the Apperley side is being refurbished. Up to 300 Canada Geese roosting, but they moved off by about 09h00 leaving only about 600 ducks, mainly Wigeon; still two Ruff, about 220 Lapwings, a whisp of 20 Snipe, 28 Golden Plover late morning and a male Blackcap.
It looks as though most of the ducks moved over to Ashleworth where water levels are high: nearly 2000 ducks, mainly Wigeon, perhaps 200 Teal plus a sprinkling of Shoveler, Pintail and Gadwall.
Walmore Common (27 November, contributed by Andy Jayne)
2 Little Egrets in the afternoon.
Awre (27 November, contributed by Andy Jayne)
An afternoon visit produced 2 Little Stint, 800 Dunlin and 2 Rock Pipits.
Coombe Hill (26 November, contributed by Ian Ralphs)
In the early afternoon there was a shoal of between 100-120 Tench estimated as being between 8 oz and 3 lbs (with a few bigger), right in up against the wall on the extreme eastern edge of the Wharf.
Witcombe Res. (26 November, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A male Goosander on the reservoir in the morning.
GLS (25 November, contributed by Gordon Avery)
The female Goldeneye had moved on to the river. A female Siskin also present; the first since November 2001.
GLS (23 November, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A female Goldeneye and a Water Rail on the pond today.
Severn Hams (17 November, contributed by Mike Smart)
The recent light flooding has left excellent conditions for waterbirds. At Coombe Hill, the Grundon Hide is still inaccessible, but good views can be had from the canal bank: on 17th November: 600 Wigeon, 80 Pintail (promising numbers for the time of year), but rather few Teal and Shoveler; nearly 600 Canada Geese are rather prominent! A flock of 230 Lapwings, accompanied by five Little Stints, rarely seen here. A Chiffchaff calling with two very noisy Water Rails.
The floods have gone down on the Leigh Meadows, but there are few birds about; no sign there (or anywhere else) of the Whooper Swans, and no Bewick's have arrived from Slimbridge.
Flooding still extensive at Ashleworth; a Peregrine on the pylons and some Shoveler and Coot.
Walmore Common (12/13 November, contributed by Andy Jayne)
The extensive flooding at Walmore Common has attracted good numbers of wildfowl. Over the course of the weekend I have counted 400 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 350 Teal, 150 Mallard, 104 Pintail, 54 Shoveler and 1 Tufted Duck.
Nearby, there were 5 adult Bewick's Swans and 4 Lesser Redpoll at Wilmer, Rodley early afternoon on 13th.
Coombe Hill (9 November, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A first-winter Grey Phalarope today from Grundon Hide. Also 2 adult Bewick's Swans flying in from the south west at 1230, 1000 Wigeon, 37 Pintail, 2 Water Rail (heard), 1 Green Sandpiper (heard), 1 pair of Stonechats and a female Blackcap along the Canal.
Sudmeadow (9 November, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A pair of Stonechats just past the Lower Parting along the Severn Way. A first-winter Little Grebe still on the pond.
Severn Hams (6 November, contributed by Mike Smart)
Duck count day today (or Wetland Bird Survey - WeBS count day as we have to call it nowadays); the day once a month when people all over the country go out to count wetland birds, so as to monitor population sizes and sites used. True to form, it rained hard, and the Severn, already high, caused local streams to back up further. At Coombe Hill, there is fairly extensive but still shallow flooding between the Grundon Hide and the Long Pool; the Grundon hide is still accessible with wellingtons, and conditions are perfect for surface feeding ducks: 130 Mallard (including a number of call ducks and hybrids), 425 Teal feeding in the shallow water, 645 Wigeon, up to ten each of Gadwall, Shoveler and Pintail, plus over 350 Canada Geese, at least 20 Greylag Geese and one Canada x Greylag cross. The only swans were Mute, no sign of Bewick's or Whoopers, despite suitable conditions. One Green Sandpiper and a dozen Lapwings. The hide overlooking the Long Pool can be reached via Wick Street (alongside the Farmer's Arms), but there are rather fewer birds to see on that side.
On the Leigh Meadows, there is no flooding, though the Chelt is fairly high; birds a bit thin - some flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing going over.
At Ashleworth, water levels are rising, and there is a fair amount of water on the Ham Road, especially at the Ashleworth end; best approached from Tirley; the hide is still easily accessible from Tirley. Less birds about, a few Wigeon and Teal, but the Peregrine was on the pylons as usual this morning.
Beachley Point (3 November, contributed by Gordon Avery)
Despite the very strong winds there was little to record apart from a Rock Pipit and a dead Harbour Porpoise on the high tide line.
Witcombe (31 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A WEBs count produced 56 Tufted Duck and 6 Teal amongst the other wildfowl and also a female Stonechat along the one of the hedgerows.
Severn Hams (29 October, contributed by Mike Smart)
The level of the Severn had dropped somewhat at Haw Bridge, but not enough for the floodwater at Ashleworth and Hasfield Hams to flow away. Water levels on the GWT reserve at Ashleworth are now at their preferred winter level and are maintained by a sluice; so conditions are right for any Whooper Swans from Iceland which may deign to come this winter, after a two year absence; a couple of Gadwall had joined the Wigeon and Teal. At Coombe Hill, the scrapes are full, but there is no flooding; on 29 October there were 300 Teal (a respectable number for the season), 60 Wigeon, 14 Snipe and four Green Sandpipers with at least one Stonechat. On the Leigh Meadows, the local brooks have not overflowed either, so things are rather quiet; the main bird of note on 29 October was a Stonechat; plus of course the masses of Redwings and Fieldfares at all sites, in their hundreds in the hedges and flying over, obviously on migration.
Further downriver at Walmore Common, high Severn levels have also produced light flooding, with very attractive conditions for waterbirds; the juvenile Red-necked Phalarope found by Andy Jayne was the star of the show (was it the bird that had previously been seen at Slimbridge?), but there were good numbers of ducks too - 100 Wigeon, 120 Mallard, 100 Teal with half a dozen Shoveler and Pintail, and a couple of Bewick's Swans, no doubt birds from Slimbridge put in an appearance. Interestingly, birds newly arrived at Slimbridge often make a recce in the first few days, to check on conditions at Severn Vale sites which they have visited in previous winters.
Sudmeadow (27 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A nice female Merlin today; it tried to take a Pied Wagtail but missed, then the wagtail had the audacity to start chasing the Merlin. Brave fool!
Looks as if the Stonechats have moved out.
Autumn hits the Severn Hams (27 October, contributed by Mike Smart)
Since the heavy rain of last weekend, autumn has clearly arrived, despite a last fine day of summer on Thursday 27 October. The rain in North Wales brought the Severn at Haw Bridge to its highest level since the light floods of last April. At the same time, local rainfall filled all the streams and ditches; since the Severn was so high, they could not discharge into the river and as a result have been back-flooding onto the meadows. As a result, water is pouring into the GWT reserve at Ashleworth and the fields in front of the hide are lightly flooded, the water extending over greater surfaces all the time; by the end of the week, most of the area normally flooded in winter will
is likely to be under water (just in perfect time in fact for the Whooper Swans arriving from Iceland, which have not appeared in the last two years because of shortage of water). Over on Hasfield Ham, there is light flooding too.
On 27 October, about 250 Wigeon were on the floodwater, along with nearly 100 Teal, quite the highest number found in the area so far this autumn; about a dozen Shoveler were right in front of the hides. A Paregrine Falcon (the North American name of which is ominously duck hawk) sat eyeing them from the nearby pylon. There were as many as seven Herons, and about 14 Mute Swans. At least fifteeen Lawings and three Snipe. The hedges were full of wintering thrushes, mostly Redwings but a few Fieldfares too. Lots of migrants Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, with the odd Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit in the hedges.
Nothing particularly unusual for the site, but all showing that conditions look right for the wintering birds.
Walmore Common (27 October, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A very unexpected new species for the site today was a very late first-winter Black Tern that flew in at 1.20pm and remained over the floodwater for nearly 40 minutes. Also present were 50 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 80 Teal, 100 Mallard, 5 Pintail, 5 Shoveler, a Cormorant, a Kingfisher and a pair of Stonechats. A Brimstone butterfly as well.
Sudmeadow (26 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)
This afternoon before the rain: male Stonechats at Port Ham; The Pond, GLS and at Fieldings playing field.
Cheltenham (17 October, contributed by Robert Homan)
2 Chiffchaffs singing and a third calling from the Honeybourne Cycle Path this morning.
Sudmeadow (5 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)
The overnight fog resulted in some migrants being grounded, including 6 Redwings and several new Blackbirds and Robins in the area plus at least 4 Chiffchaffs, a female Blackcap and some 'crests'. The local Linnet flock is now up to 70 strong. In addition there was 1+ Golden Plover moving south and calling.
Cheltenham (5 October, contributed by Robert Homan)
The autumn is a time when evidence of the feeding activities of various leaf mining insects is fairly easy to find. Here are two conspicuous examples. The first image shows a series of mines of the micro-moth Lyonetia clerkella in a leaf from an ornamental cherry. The second is of a birch leaf with many mines of another micro-moth Ectoedemia occultella
Severn Hams (1 October, contributed by Mike Smart, Les Brown and Colin Butters)
Here we are in the last quarter of the year, long evenings and winter visitors approaching. Birdwise, rather quiet on the Severn Hams front, as there is not yet much water in scrapes or on fields. Practically no waterbirds about yet: 32 Greylags flew over Coombe Hill early this morning, going southwest, an unusually large number although more and more seem to be breeding higher up the Severn and Avon; otherwise just a few Snipe, perhaps half a dozen at Coombe Hill. On the other hand there was a fair amount of visible migration all morning at Coombe Hill, Ashleworth and Leigh Meadows: a small but steady stream of Swallows and House Martins, small numbers of Skylarks with rather more Meadow Pipits and the odd Yellowhammer; Chiffchaffs were singing or calling from very many hedges and the osier beds, and a good number of raptors - half a dozen Kestrels, fair numbers of Buzzards (six together at Ashleworth) and at both Coombe Hill and Leigh Meadows a number of Buzzards (young ones?) giving an unusual high-pitched call, much shriller than the usual mewing, generally from the top of a tree; and over Leigh Meadows a Merlin; in addition at Coombe Hill an October Whinchat and four Stonechats, and a Wheatear at Leigh Meadows.
Sudmeadow (1 October, contributed by Gordon Avery)
Not a lot about, although there was a Whinchat by Gloucester Football Club, Sudmeadow Road.
Haresfield Hill (29 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Willow Tit and 2 Chiffchaffs with a small tit-flock, also 8 Common Buzzards up together over the hill.
Cheltenham (29 September, contributed by Robert Homan)
2 Chiffchaffs singing along the Honeybourne Cycle Path between Wyman's Brook and the town centre in the morning.
Berkeley Shore (28 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
Along the shore towards Severn House Farm were 2 fairly early Rock Pipits and a first winter 'Greenland' Wheatear.
CWP(W) (27 September, contributed by Andy Jayne)
Around CWP(W) this afternoon were 80 Red-crested Pochard, 1 Hobby, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 9 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper and 1 Reed Warbler.
Ashleworth (27 September, contributed by Mike Smart)
Rather quiet: a few Meadow Pipits and the odd Snipe. Water control structures have been built during the autumn on some of the ditches outside the reserve with the aim of retaining water in the ditches in spring.
Coombe Hill (27 September, contributed by Mike Smart)
One Whinchat and two Stonechats on the same bush; one Wheatear. A few Swallows, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Yelowhammers going over (visual migrants); song from Chiffchaffs and Blackcap. The excavation and scrape construction work now finished for this year: work on extension of the scrape in front of the Grundon Hide couldn't be completed because of the problems of disposing of spoil in the floodplain; will be completed next year.
Severn Hams (Late September, contributed by Mike Smart)
From the ornithological point of view, late summer and early autumn is a dull time in the Severn hams, because the breeding birds have finished their business and, with water levels low, not many waterbirds appear. Still, the blackberry crop has been exceptional, and the Spindle Trees with their pink fruits are in full colour.
Summer 2005 appears to have been a very poor breeding season, to judge from the ringing evidence at Ashleworth. Catches have been much lower than last year's bumper numbers, and the numbers of young birds have been very small; whereas last year there were very large catches (mainly juveniles) of the three main species, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Bunting, all three were few and far between in July and August. On the other hand a Barn Owl definitely raised young on a farm at Apperley; a number of nest boxes have been put up in the hope of attracting more; and there have been a rather more records of Little Owls, which appeared to have decreased of late: one calling at midday at Ashleworth on 24 September.
At both Ashleworth and Coombe Hill, water levels have dropped as usual, though the massive thunderstrom (nearly three inches of rain in the afternoon at Ashleworth) on 10 September soon refilled the scrapes at Coombe Hill. This is the (dry) time of year, best for management and conservation work, and much has been done at the two GWT reserves: at Coombe Hill, silt has been removed from the Long Pool (for the first time for very many years) to create a pool for ducks and other waterbirds in front of the second new hide overlooking the Long Pool, on the Apperley side; the opportunity was taken to take a soil sample using an auger which allowed a core two metres long to be collected; this showed that the surface silt surprisingly extended only about 30cms down, before being replaced by the underlying non-porous Compton clays; there were signs of periods of marine incursion deeper down. In front of the existing hide in Broadmere by the canal, the existing scrapes are being extended; very importantly, the long vegetation (including much pioneer willow) which had grown up over the last two years around the existing scrapes has been cut, so that conditions for ducks this winter and breeding waders next spring should be ideal.
At Ashleworth, much of the young willow growth along the main ditch opposite the Meerend Thicket hide has been removed, restoring the wider vistas that had been screened out. Most of the fields have been mown (which was not done last year), though the decreasing numbers of animals raised by local farmers made it difficult to dispose of hay and to provide beasts to graze. A new second roadside hide has been constructed, offering much improved viewing facilities over the northern part of the reserve. The annual process of raising water levels through manipulation of the sluice has begun, and the reserve should be under shallow water as soon as there is any appreciable rainfall or higher levels in the Severn.
Birdwise, it has been quiet: the odd Green Sandpiper at Coombe Hill, a couple of Redstarts (probably the last of the year) on 7 September; some signs of autumn migrations, with little flocks of Meadow Pipits, the first since April coming to roost in the evenings, and in fine weather more Meadow Pipits and Skylarks going over to the southwest, with the odd Yellowhammer and late Swallow. The star bird has been a Merlin, which has showed itself to two lucky observers at Coombe Hill in the last ten days or so.
Tewkesbury (25 September, contributed by Robert Homan)
5 Jays in flight near Mythe Water Works in the morning - there have been reports of small flocks of Jays moving through sites in northern England and it seems that birds have moved in from the continent perhaps because of a lack of acorns. On a related theme, there is very little, if any beech mast in the Cheltenham area this autumn which might have an effect on finch and tit flocks later in the year.
Sudmeadow (24 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
7 Buzzards up together, 1 adult male Peregrine,3 Grey Wagtails,1 male Stonechat and 40 Linnets today.
GLS (23 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
Very little present compared to notes below. Only a Common Sandpiper, juvenile Little Grebe and a Grey Wagtail.
Sudmeadow (19 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Wheatear on the old tip at the Rea end. On the pond in the afternoon were 1 juvenile Spotted Redshank plus 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper plus the juvenile Dabchick still present.
Sudmeadow (13 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A hatch of Comma butterflies in the morning, most of which were feeding on the brambles. There were also at least 2 Red Admirals in the area. At about 4.30 pm there was a first winter 'Caspian Gull', Larus cachinaans, roosting and preening with other gulls on the now 'split' pond at GLS.
CWP(W) (11 September, contributed by Andy Jayne)
A Black-necked Grebe, a Water Rail and Kingfisher at pit 31. There was a Black Tern briefly at pit 57 and the pits 79/84/85 area produced a female Ruddy Duck with 2 small ducklings, 1 Hobby, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 3+ Green Sandpipers and 1 Common Sandpiper. Also 9 Common Terns scattered around, but few passerines of any note.
GLS Pond (8 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
1 adult Dabchicks and 3 Green Sandpipers.
GLS Pond (3 September, contributed by Gordon Avery)
2 adult Dabchicks, 1 juvenile Shelduck, 1 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Snipe and 2 Green Sandpipers.
Sudmeadow (30 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A superb Barn Owl hunting around the marsh at Sudmeadow early in the morning and a passage Curlew heard. Also 3 Jays were the first in the area this year.
At the pond in the afternoon were 5 Green Sandpipers, 11 Tufted Ducks including the brood mentioned on 1st August, also at least 1 adult Dabchick there.
Guscar Rocks to Pill House Warth (29 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)
The highlights were 1 Peregrine, 8 Knot, c.450 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatears and 2 Ravens. Also a Clouded Yellow.
Swindon Village (26 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
A fairly late Swift feeding with a flock of approximately 100 House Martins and Swallows over pasture west of the village in the afternoon.
Coombe Hill Meadows (23 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
A mixed flock of 200+ Swallows and House Martins feeding over the meadows on the south side of the canal. 2 Chiffchaffs singing, many Bullfinches along the canal and a Kingfisher fishing near the Wharf.
GLS/Sudmeadow (15 and 16 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
On 15th, 2 Green Sandpipers still at the pond on GLS and a Kingfisher by Llantony Weir. On 16th, 34 Linnets at Sudmeadow and 3 Garden Warblers trapped.
Coombe Hill Meadows (14 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)
In the evening there were 3 Little Egrets, 13 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 70 Swallows and 2 Whinchats.
The scrapes have almost completely dried out now and unless we get some heavy rain shortly, it looks likes the area will, alas, be dry during peak migration over the next few weeks.
Prestbury (10 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
A flock of 52 Swallows, mainly juveniles, congregating on overhead wires at Queenwood Grove this afternoon, a typical sign of late summer.
Witcombe (10 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A very large moulting flock of 71 Tufted Ducks plus a small duckling so at least one pair bred. In addition, 76 mainly adult Coot there, which is a good count for this time of the year.
GLS/Rea (8 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A juvenile Cuckoo this morning by the river at the Rea (GLS) end. The 3 Green Sandpiperss are still on the pond.
Nottingham Hill (8 August, contributed by Robert Homan)
3 Ravens and 2 Buzzards taking advantage of thermals as the temperature rose, mid-morning.
Lower Rea (7 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
A Whimbrel over during the morning and 3 Common Terns by the river.
Woorgreens/Crabtree Hill (7 August, contributed by Andy Jayne)
During the afternoon there were: 1 Hobby, 1 Tree Pipit, 17 Willow Warblers (with tit flock), 3 Willow Tits, 2 Ravens, 2 Siskins and 6 Crossbills.
GLS (5 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
3 Green Sandpipers still present on the pond, but no other waders. Also a female Pochard and 2 Reed Warblers, which were the first since May 2002.
Coombe Hill (3 August, contributed by Mike Smart)
On the scrapes, water levels are declining fast, but conditions are still fine and attracting some waders: 4 Little Egrets (after an all time record of 10 seen by Les Brown last Saturday!); a single Curlew strangely hanging on, but not behaving like a breeding bird; one Greenshank; two Green Sandpipers; one Snipe; about 15 Lapwings, clearly migrants; a Wheatear, sitting in the top of a tree; at least two Redstarts seen, calling anxiously from lines of willows, not sure if they were adults calling to young, or solitary young birds; a Whinchat at the southern end of the canal.
Ashleworth (3 August, contributed by Mike Smart)
Hay is being cut for silage on the main reserve fields, the rest is to be cut for bedding in the next few days, and willows along main central ditch will be pruned next week; both Buzzards and Lesser Blackbacks following the tractors in search of prey, both frogs and dead voles seen in the cut hay.
GLS (1 August, contributed by Gordon Avery)
In the morning - on the pond were 3 Green Sandpipers/ 3 Little Grebes (2ads and 1 juv) almost certainly bred here for the first time. Female Tufted Duck and 6 young/ 2 adult Shelduck and 5 young. Greenshank over as well. In the evening there was a migrant Redstart at Sudmeadow.
Coombe Hill (29 July, contributed by Robert Homan)
Single Curlew, Green Sandpiper and Snipe and 6, possibly 7, Little Egrets this afternoon.
GLS (27 July, contributed by Gordon Avery)
This afternoon there were 2 Green Sandpipers and an Oystercatcher, which is an unusual species here.
GLS (19 July, contributed by Gordon Avery)
6 young Shelduck and 6 young Tufted plus 3 females and a Green Sandpiper on the GLS pond today.
CWP(W) (16 July, contributed by Gareth Harris)
A male Lesser Emperor was seen at Lake 26 at 12.30 in association with Brown Hawkers, Emperor and Black Tailed Skimmers. This is a Wiltshire pit, but the location is only metres from the county boundary!
Cheltenham (15 July, contributed by Robert Homan)
A very welcome visitor to the garden moth trap in Swindon Lane was this Garden Tiger. Formerly a common species and certainly familiar from its "woolly bear" larvae, there is now some concern about the effects of climate change on the moth.
Lower Lode, Tewkesbury (14 July, contributed by Mike Smart)
A third Sand Martin ringing session on the banks of the Severn at Lower Lode increased the grand total of birds caught to 42, among them seven juveniles, so an estimate of 20-30 pairs nesting in the river bank seems reasonable. In addition, a couple of observations showed that the river clearly acts as a route for migrant waders: three Common Sandpipers were on the "beach" at the base of the bank, and two adult Dunlin, feeding very actively. There was also a Little Owl in the area.
Dymock Woods (13 July, contributed by Robert Homan)
The hot weather over the last few days has meant that insects are to the fore, while bird song has diminished. Seen today in the Dymock Woods area were 2 White Admirals and a good variety of other butterfly species including Brimstone, Comma, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.
One of 2 White Admirals in Dymock Woods - this one was in Hay Wood in Gloucestershire. The other was close to the main car park in Queen's Wood, just over the border in Herefordshire.
Severn Hams (12 July, contributed by Mike Smart)
At Coombe Hill today: 3 Little Egrets, a Tufted Duck, two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper; the last remaining pair of breeding Lapwings still have their chick which is almost full grown but not yet flying; in addition there is a flock of about 100 non-breeding Lapwings, undoubtedly birds which have arrived from elsewhere, and (like the Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper) a sign of return passage and the arrival of autumn.
On Sunday 10 July, good numbers of Sand Martins at three spots along the Severn: about 20 round Haw Bridge, (with at least one pair nesting in a drainpipe emptying into the river!), another dozen at the colony just north of Haw Bridge, and about forty round the colony at Lower Lode; in the evening Mervyn Greening and I had a ringing session at Lower Lode and caught 32 birds, including several juveniles, so there are probably more birds present than you would think from looking at birds flying about. No Hobby on 10 July, but we did see two Oystercatchers flying down river. People who know the river fish better than I do confirm that the big fish we saw jumping in late June must have been salmon, moving up the river to spawn.
Throughout much of the Severn Hams, hay making is almost complete; I have a nasty suspicion that production of young Curlews has been disastrously low. In most places, the adults have left the breeding fields and there are very few places indeed where adults are making the usual alarm calls when there are young about. I have only heard of one young Curlew seen by haymakers, on 7 July, a young one that was a week short of being able to fly. This seems to me to be about the right date for young Curlews; I don't believe that they had a good season and simply finished early; they have either been hit by early haymaking or by predators (crows, gulls and foxes).
In the meadows during hay-making there has been a phonomenal number of Meadow Brown butterflies this year.
The GWT Coombe Hill Biodiversity Challenge, over the weekend of 2/3 July, had the aim of recording 500 species (all species combined - invetebrates, birds, and flowers) and seems to have reached its target easily: the last figure heard was 538 species, with several species of insect as yet unidentified.
Here are 2 of the species seen: Emperor Moth larva on the left and Peacock butterfly larva on the right
Coombe Hill Meadows (10 July, contributed by Andy Jayne)
In the afternoon there was a juvenile Water Rail in front of the Long Pool hide at 16:50hrs; this is quite a rare breeding bird in the county. Also in the area were 6 Teal, male Sparrowhawk, 40 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 2 (adult & juvenile) Tawny Owl and 3 Lesser Whitethroats.
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